The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-11
The New Navy.

The report of the Secretary of the Navy
Mr.. Whitney, shows that he has his depart
ment well in hand, and that he is fully
qualified to administer its affairs satisfac-
torily. His suggestions and recommended
tons can hardly fail to meet with the ap-
prevail Of Congress, because they appeal to
reason and common sense.
He points out that we are bound to build
an entirely new navy, and that we should
build it from the best materials aud
utilize every idea that has been approved
by the best constructors of war vessels. He
thinks that it is all folly to waste money i'll
repairing ships which will be wholly worth
less when they are repaired, and every in
telligent man in the country must agree
with him. The monitors, upon which so
much money has been spent, and which at
one time did good service, would be of little
or no value in contest with a modern
armored vessel. We might as well make up
our minds that we have got to make kindling
wood and junk shop material of most of the
vessels which now compose our navy.
The new vessels now being constructed
promise to meet Interpretations entertained
will be an Improvement upon its predeces-
sor, because our naval constructors will
remedy faults as they become apparent, and
will make use of suggestions and new dis
coveries. The Secretary recommends that
Congress authorize the building of two more
armored sea-going vessels, and three more
cruisers of the highest type. If this recon-
mendation is complied with, these vessels,
together with those already built and being
built, will make us feel that we can begin to
talk about our navy without feeling of
shame.
There is one thing to which the Secretary
refers with evident pride. 1t is the immense
plant which has been established at Bethle-
hem for making steel for armored vessels
and guns 1t is described as being inferior
to no plant Of the kind in the world We
shall not now have to go abroad for either
armor for our vessels or for guns. We can
make all the articles we need in building our
navy, and that, too, with a feeling of conf
dence that we could get nothing in foreign
countries superior to what we have in our
own.
Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire, will
hardly find much satisfaction in reading
Mr.. Whitney's report. 1t is said that one of
the reasons why &c wanted to be a Senator
was to have chance to reply to some of
the criticisms which have been made by Mr..
Whitney upon his management of the Navy
Department, and to make an attack upon
Mr.. Whitney's management of it. In view
of the fact that Mr.. Whitney shows that
Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. Robson, during
their administrations of the Navy Depart
ment spent about 100000 for which
there is absolutely nothing to show, it is
pretty safe to conclude that all of Mr.. Chan
dlers time will be taken up with explaining
what he did with the money which passed
through his hands. He will have no time
to criticise Mr.. Whitney's work. If he
should have he will find very little to find
fault with. Mr.. Whitney's administration
is so superior in every respect to what his
was that he will not be in much of hurry
to invite compariSons between them